مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُۥ فِيهَا مَا نَشَآءُ لِمَن نُّرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَىٰهَا مَذْمُومًا مَّدْحُورًا 18
Translations
Whoever should desire the immediate - We hasten for him from it what We will to whom We intend. Then We have made for him Hell, which he will [enter to] burn, censured and banished.
Transliteration
Man kana yuridu al-'ajilata 'ajjalna lahu fiha ma nasha'u liman nurid, thumma ja'alna lahu jahannama yaslaha madhmuuman madhhurah.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who seek only the immediate gains of this worldly life (al-'ajilah); Allah grants them swiftly what He wills in this life as a test, but then prepares for them Hellfire as their final destination. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a warning against prioritizing worldly desires over the Hereafter, noting that temporary worldly success is not a sign of Allah's favor but rather a trial, and such people will enter Hell disgraced and rejected from Allah's mercy.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra, a Meccan surah revealed during the early Meccan period. It appears within a passage addressing various categories of people and their orientations toward the Hereafter, providing contrast between those seeking the next life and those seeking only worldly pleasures. The broader context of the surah emphasizes spiritual journey and accountability before Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who have the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), and in another context: 'This worldly life is cursed, and all that is in it is cursed, except the remembrance of Allah and what leads to it' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2322), both relating to the theme of not being deceived by worldly pursuits.
Themes
Key Lesson
Seeking only worldly gains, though it may appear successful temporarily, ultimately leads to spiritual ruin and divine punishment; believers should balance their worldly responsibilities with sincere devotion to Allah and preparation for the Hereafter, understanding that true honor lies in divine pleasure, not material accumulation or social status.
Related Ayahs
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِى مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِى مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَٱجْعَل لِّى مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَـٰنًا نَّصِيرًا
And say, "My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority."
وَبِٱلْحَقِّ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ وَبِٱلْحَقِّ نَزَلَ ۗ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا
And with the truth We have sent it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down, and with the truth it has descended. And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], except as a bringer of good tidings and a warner.
وَكُلَّ إِنسَـٰنٍ أَلْزَمْنَـٰهُ طَـٰٓئِرَهُۥ فِى عُنُقِهِۦ ۖ وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ كِتَـٰبًا يَلْقَىٰهُ مَنشُورًا
And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open.
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَـٰكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا
Then We gave back to you a return victory over them. And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower.